The European Space Agency proudly celebrates a major milestone in its mission to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship as over 2000 European start-ups have now been successfully incubated through the ESA Business Incubation Centres (BICs) network. With 37 centres across 23 countries, the ESA BICs form Europe’s largest ecosystem dedicated to supporting space-related ventures.
For over 20 years ESA BICs have been providing entrepreneurs with equity-free funding, access to worldclass technical expertise, including ESA experts and national technology institutes, as well as tailored business support. The network assists start-ups working with downstream applications, technology transfer cases and upstream technologies and was ranked 2nd among European incubator networks and 10th among European start-up hubs by the Financial Times (2025), showcasing its high-quality support to emerging ventures.
The 2000th incubated start-up
Coros Space, incubated via ESA BIC Nord France, marks a significant landmark in the network’s journey, highlighting the continued growth and cutting-edge innovation supported by ESA BICs across Europe. The company develops next-generation onboard computing and data handling systems that enable seamless, intelligent data processing between orbit and Earth, paving the way toward in-orbit data centres and enhancing mission performance, reliability and autonomy for commercial and scientific satellites. By making global space-based processing faster and more reliable, Coros Space represents a standout achievement in ESA’s mission to empower European entrepreneurs and advance the commercialisation of space technologies.
“We are happy and proud of being part of the ESA BIC community. The provided guidance and support are particularly helpful to navigate in the European space ecosystem and find partners within the network. With the help of ESA BIC Nord France we are now developing our first product and moving toward a flight-ready system in 2026.” – Sanath Mureth, CEO Coros Space.
“The successful incubation of Coros Space represents a major milestone for the ESA BIC Network. It demonstrates the continued value of this world-leading space commercialisation network pioneered by ESA over 20 years ago. As the ESA Council of Ministers 2025 draws near, it is critical that ESA Member States ensure adequate support and resources are given to maintaining and evolving the ESA BIC network so that it remains a valuable asset for the future.” – Philip Thomas, Head of the ESA ScaleUp Programme.
Niels Eldering, Head of ESA Entrepreneurship & Business Incubation Services, adds: “From Earth to orbit, our 2000th ESA BIC start-up, Coros Space, reflects how Europe connects upstream innovation with downstream impact. This milestone highlights the diversity of our network; from technology transfer and satellite data applications to the rise of new space ventures. Coros Space is a great example of talent and innovation shaping Europe’s new space economy.”
The ESA BICs network
Ambitious innovators can explore their nearest ESA BIC and become part of this vibrant network driving the future of space commercialisation in Europe.
Discover the ESA BICs network